Owning an inflatable boat brings with it many perks. You can use it with you on your many water adventures at home or abroad. Because they are very portable, you don't have to worry so much about transporting it from one place to another. They are also very durable vessels since they are made of PVC or Hypalon that are able to withstand punctures or tears. They are also very easy to maintain as well. All that's needed is soap, water and a place to let your rig dry thoroughly before storing them and they're ready for your next expedition.
You must learn to perform minor repairs if you want to make your rig last a long time. While a professional is needed to do repairs for tears that are more than an inch big, you can usually take care of those that are less than that. If the tears are at the seams, be certain that you know what you are doing before attempting it as this could be tricky. If you are in doubt, bring your inflatable boat to the professionals for servicing.
Check if your unit is still under warranty, however, before you attempt self-repair. If it is, you get to save yourself the headache of doing the patching on your own.
It might look deceptively easy to repair your inflatable boat. However, following safety precautions will ensure that you do not injure yourself needlessly or damage your boat more in the process. Keep safety foremost on your mind as you do your inflatable boat repairs:
1. Make sure that you always have a repair kit with you, whether you're in the water or out of it. Your emergency repair kit should have all the things you need to mend any tears or punctures on your boat. Make sure it has a patch which can either be made of PVC or Hypalon depending on which is right for your boat, an adhesive, an accelerator and methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) water- based solvent. The manufacturer of your rig will usually recommend a repair kit that is right for your type of boat, so follow their recommendations.
2. Make sure that you follow repair kit's directions. This includes following exact recommendations about how to attach the patch as well as the best time to do it. Weather affects polymers and PVC adhesives such that it would be difficult to successfully repair your boat if the conditions are not right.
3. Do the repairs in a well-ventilated area. Open all windows if you are working indoors.
4. It is easy for fires to start because of the chemicals from the adhesives so make sure that you work away from any open flame.
5. Put on your rubber gloves when you're doing the patching to protect your skin.
6. In case solvent or glue gets in your skin or eyes, flush it with running water and consult your physician right away.
7. Make sure that you position your boat away from the direct rays of the sun, dust or wind so that the patch can strongly bond with the inflatable and successfully cover the hole.
You must learn to perform minor repairs if you want to make your rig last a long time. While a professional is needed to do repairs for tears that are more than an inch big, you can usually take care of those that are less than that. If the tears are at the seams, be certain that you know what you are doing before attempting it as this could be tricky. If you are in doubt, bring your inflatable boat to the professionals for servicing.
Check if your unit is still under warranty, however, before you attempt self-repair. If it is, you get to save yourself the headache of doing the patching on your own.
It might look deceptively easy to repair your inflatable boat. However, following safety precautions will ensure that you do not injure yourself needlessly or damage your boat more in the process. Keep safety foremost on your mind as you do your inflatable boat repairs:
1. Make sure that you always have a repair kit with you, whether you're in the water or out of it. Your emergency repair kit should have all the things you need to mend any tears or punctures on your boat. Make sure it has a patch which can either be made of PVC or Hypalon depending on which is right for your boat, an adhesive, an accelerator and methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) water- based solvent. The manufacturer of your rig will usually recommend a repair kit that is right for your type of boat, so follow their recommendations.
2. Make sure that you follow repair kit's directions. This includes following exact recommendations about how to attach the patch as well as the best time to do it. Weather affects polymers and PVC adhesives such that it would be difficult to successfully repair your boat if the conditions are not right.
3. Do the repairs in a well-ventilated area. Open all windows if you are working indoors.
4. It is easy for fires to start because of the chemicals from the adhesives so make sure that you work away from any open flame.
5. Put on your rubber gloves when you're doing the patching to protect your skin.
6. In case solvent or glue gets in your skin or eyes, flush it with running water and consult your physician right away.
7. Make sure that you position your boat away from the direct rays of the sun, dust or wind so that the patch can strongly bond with the inflatable and successfully cover the hole.
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Before you go, be sure to check out our Sea Eagle inflatable boats review and this post on the Sea Eagle 12.6.
